tetra

[ te-truh ]

/ ˈtɛ trə /

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noun

any of several tropical, freshwater fishes of the family Characidae, often kept in aquariums.

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Origin of tetra

1930–35; shortening of New Latin Tetragonopterus former genus name. See tetragon, -o-, -pterous

Words nearby tetra

Tet offensive, Teton, Teton Range, Tétouan, tetr-, tetra, tetrabasic, tetrabrach, tetrabranchiate, tetrabromofluorescein, tetracaine

Definition for tetra (2 of 2)

tetra-

a combining form meaning “four,” used in the formation of compound words: tetrabranchiate.

Also especially before a vowel, tetr-.

Origin of tetra-

<Greek, combining form of téttara, neuter of téttaresfour

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use tetra in a sentence

From a purely environmental standpoint, the statistics in favor of Tetra Pak packaging are astounding.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An ambitious Swiss packaging company, Tetra Pak, presents another alternative to Bag-in-Box.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I had my first taste of Tetra Pak wine from a neon green package labeled “Bandit” a couple of years ago.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In addition, a one-liter Tetra Pak weighs less than a pound.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Eva and her husband Hans Kristian Rausing, heir to the $10bn Tetra Pak fortune, were both friends of Prince Charles.
Body of Eva Rausing, Friend of Prince Charles, May Have Lain Undiscovered For A Week|Tom Sykes|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A small pink flower of the class Tetra dynamia covered the prairie.
Travels in the Interior of North America, 1832-1834, Part III (the Text Being Chapters XXVIII-XXXIII of the London Edition, 1843, and the Appendix a Combination of the Appendices of the London and German [Coblentz, 1839] Editions)|Maximilian, Prinz von Wied
In the case of tetra-substituted compounds, thirty isomers are possible when all the groups are different.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1|Various
Sleep may be secured by lowering the blood pressure with half-grain doses of erythrol-tetra-nitrate.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various
Fluorescein is readily nitrated, yielding a di- or tetra-nitro compound according to conditions.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5|Various
This mixture is treated with potassium chlorate and hydrochloric acid, whereby it is converted into tetra-chlorinated products.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for tetra (1 of 2)

tetra

/ (ˈtɛtrə) /

noun plural -ra or -ras

any of various brightly coloured tropical freshwater fishes of the genus Hemigrammus and related genera: family Characidae (characins)

Word Origin for tetra

C20: short for New Latin tetragonopterus (former genus name), from tetragon + -o- + -pterous, from Greek pteron wing

British Dictionary definitions for tetra (2 of 2)

tetra-

before a vowel tetr-

combining form

fourtetrameter

Word Origin for tetra-

from Greek

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for tetra

tetra-

pref.

Four:tetradactyl.

Composed of or containing four atoms, molecules, or groups:tetrasaccharide.